Strong Mentoring Relationships Support Learning

Grete Helena Kütt '20 and Prof. Alexandra Papoutsaki pose at a conference

As classes continue online in response to the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the close relationships between students and faculty that are a feature of life at Pomona College can help support remote learning in these unprecedented times.

With an average class size of 15, Pomona offers ongoing opportunities for the sort of interactions that inspired Sagecast, the podcast of Pomona College, to devote a full season to mentorship stories last year. Below, find a sampling of the 10 episodes that highlighted the kind of relationships that are common on a campus where professors are fully committed to teaching undergraduates, and peer-to-peer mentoring is nurtured.   

Here are four stories of mentoring relationships from Pomona, with links available to the full episodes  and  transcripts. For more of Sagecast, you can also listen on  Apple Podcasts,  Google Podcasts  or  Spotify.

Research and Collaboration

Alexandra Papoutsaki and Grete Helena Kütt ’20

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Transcript: Alexandra Papoutsaki and Grete Helena Kütt ’20

As remote collaboration becomes more ubiquitous, Pomona College’s Assistant Professor of Computer Science Alexandra Papoutsaki and Grete Helena Kütt ’20 are studying how eye-tracking technology could enhance teamwork. In this podcast episode, Papoutsaki and Kütt discuss their research project they presented in Glasgow, Scotland, and the impact of women in the field of computer science.


Feels Like Home

Giovanni Ortega and Anais Gonzalez Nyberg '20

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Transcript: Giovanni Ortega and Anais Gonzalez Nyberg '20

Both Chicago natives, Anais Gonzalez-Nyberg ’20 and Assistant Professor of Theatre Giovanni Ortega share a special connection. “Tio Gio,” as Ortega is affectionately called by many of his theatre students, provides support to Posse Scholars like Gonzalez-Nyberg when they are homesick or when they need guidance envisioning and creating a theatrical career path. 


Developing Leaders

Jen Scanlon and Megan Kuo ’20

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Transcript: Jen Scanlon and Megan Kuo ’20

Mentoring is an integral part of leadership development for Pomona College athletes. Interim Athletic Director and Women's Soccer Coach Jen Scanlon and captain Megan Kuo, a neuroscience major, discuss their paths to Pomona as well as the historic success of Pomona-Pitzer’s team last season. 


Cohorts and Academic Support That Make a Difference

Travis Brown and Nicah Vhin Driza '21

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Transcript: Travis Brown and Nicah Vhin Driza '21

Where can Pomona College students turn when they need help with quantitative methods and concepts? In this episode, Travis Brown, director of the Quantitative Skills Center (QSC), and Pomona Scholar of Science Nicah Vhin Driza ’20 illustrate through their experiences how the QSC equips students with the resources and skills they need to be successful in the classroom.